Medicated salt brick.



- been in use.

compounded of salt, cement, nitrate of pot- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES l3. EATON, OF GENTERPOINT, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGEBASS BLACKMAN, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

MEDICATED SALTBRICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,633, dated February24, 1903.

Application filed June 12, 1902. Serial No. 111,410. (No specimens.)

vide an improved brick of the character referred to by means of which,while the stock obtain the necessary amount of salt to satisfy theirnatural craving, is also administered a medicinal preparation whichoperates to purify the blood, regulate all stomach troubles, cause ahealthy action of the skin, expel worms from the stomach and intestines,and create a normal and healthy appetite.

Medicated salt rock intended to accomplish the objects above set forthhas heretofore Such medicated salt rock was ash, santonin, nux vomica,gentian, sulfate of iron, and sulfur. In making such salt rock thecement was mixed with a sufficient quantity of water to form a plasticmass, into which the other ingredients were stirred'to produce acompound to harden into rock form, the cement being employed as a binderor adhesive agent. The compound was then put up in the form of blocks orcakes of suitable dimensions and was designed to be placed in thefeed-boxes of the stock or places where the animals have been accustomedto be salted The. cement used in the described medicated salt rock wasof no benefit to the stock and was merely used as a binder for the otheringredients, and a great deal of water was required in mixing the saltand medicine with the cement, and after mixing the compound was placedin a wooden box and left to dry, during which operation the Water cameto the top, naturally carrying with it the medicine, leaving the cementat the bottom of the box, whereby after the rock had become hardened thebottom of the block was practically useless, only the upper side thereofcontaining the medicine. Furthermore, with such composition the cementhardened in the course of a few weeks to such an extent that it wouldhoneycomb when licked by the stock and would soon become so hard thatthe stock would be forced to bite or crush it with their teeth ratherthan lick it, as intended.

According to my present invention the formula used for my improvedmedicated brick is as follows: Liverpool evaporated salt, sixtyfivepounds eight ounces; clay, (such as hereinafter described,) thirtypounds; sulfur, two pounds; saltpeter, one pound; copperas, one pound;nux vomica, (powdered six ounces; santonin, two ounces.

The clay is mixed with water, and the other ingredients are stirred inwith the clay and intimately mixed therewith. The mixture is then moldedinto shape and placed in a press and given approximately four thousandfive hundred pounds pressure to each brick. The bricks are then placedin a dry-kiln and kept there, say, for about forty-eight'hours and arethen ready for use.

.The clay employed for the purpose is found in the immediate vicinity ofBainbridge, in the county of Decatur and State of Georgia, and is knownin that vicinity as Indian pipe-clay. An analysis of this clay disclosesthe presence of aluminium, iron, silica, magnesia, lime, and traces ofpotash. This clay contains no gravel, grit, or grain of any kind andrequires onlysix quarts of water to mix thirty pounds of it to form onehundred pounds of the compound. By employing this clay'instead of thecement, as set forth in the Letters Patent heretofore referred to, themedicine is distributed evenly throughout the entire brick; Whilethecement used in the said former patent is of no benefit to the stock,being simply employed as a binder, the clay referred to in the presentinvention has been found in practice to be of a decided I ICO medicinalpreparation for all kinds of live stock and should be placed in theanimals feed-box or in the vicinity of the place where the animal isusually salted or watered. It not only furnishes the necessary amount ofsalt to the animal, but also administers the medicinal materialsmentioned that operate to purify the blood, regulate the stomachtroubles, cause a healthy action of the skin, expel worms from thestomach and intestines, and create a normal and healthy appetite. Thestock licking the brick tastes nothing but the salt and clay, but at thesame time takes the proper quantity of medicinal materials mentioned.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The herein-describedmedicated brick for live stock consisting of salt, clay possessing thecharacteristics described, and medicinal materials, all intimately mixedand dried to form a block, as set forth.

2. The herein-described medicated brick for live stock, the sameconsisting of salt, clay, sulfur, saltpeter, copperas, nux vomica andsantonin, in approximately the proportions specified, and all intimatelymixed and hardened into block form, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES B. EATON.

Witnesses:

A. W. FORDHAM, R. W. TURNER.

